Meet Amariah Andrews | Crochet Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amariah Andrews and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amariah, why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to pick an artistic/creative career because it’s what I truly love to do. Often, people say to do what you love and what brings you the most satisfaction. Crocheting, working with fashion and clothes, and making apparel are what bring high levels of satisfaction. I also enjoy having complete creative control over my work and what I do. I love being the boss and doing what I want. This reminds me of times when people ask me what am I going to do when I get huge and need more help. To this day I have no clue because I am so hands-on and love doing everything by myself. I also decided to go this route because I want to show my community that crocheting is a unique form of art. It is an art form that falls under the category of fiber arts. It is quite artistic as it uses many different stitches, colors, and types of yarns. I also joke around and say that my work will be in a museum one day. I hope that joke becomes a reality someday.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I’ve mentioned before, I crochet. What sets crocheting apart from other art forms is the fact that it’s fiber arts. Fiber arts is an art form that uses natural and synthetic materials. This includes yarns, laces, and all sorts of fabric. Not a lot of people know how to crochet which sets me apart from them. If they do know how to crochet, they just don’t pursue it fully which is okay. You don’t always have to monetize and capitalize on your hobbies.

I’m proud of how much I’ve grown, I was very small at one point and didn’t know much about anything. Over time my pieces became more extravagant and I’m now making stuff that even blows my mind. I’m also proud of everyone’s hearts I’ve touched with my work. I always say what I do is deeper than just crocheting. I’m excited to see what pieces I will make and who I’ll work with in the future. I love working with other creatives with my work. For example, I’ve worked with some great photographers who captured my art in such a great way (thank you Akbar and Groovy) and I would like to work with more. I also want to work with models, influencers, and celebrities. I have a mental list of public figures who I want in my work. My top five people who I want in my work right now are Lil Yachty, Ari Lennox, Mariah The Scientist, Bktherula, and Steve Lacy.

Getting to where I am right now was not an easy ride at all and I still have so much work to do. I overcame a lot of challenges through countless failures and trial and error. Anyone who says they didn’t struggle trying to pursue what they love is lying. We all struggle in this life. That’s what life is. Life is just a bunch of lessons and tests. The most important lessons I’ve learned so far were knowing my worth and stopping comparison. Comparison is the thief of joy. The only person you need to compare yourself to is you. Once I mastered that, it unlocked a new drive in me. I also learned to not lose my passion for what I love. I want the world to know that my story was not easy. I struggle and go through things just like everyone else and that’s what makes my story beautiful. My struggles are what makes my work and brand so unique.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love living in Atlanta. There is so much to see and do here. If I wanted someone to have a great time, I would take them to the bars of Buckhead. I’ve had my fair share of those bars and let’s just say there is a such thing as too much fun. Atlanta has a lot of shopping opportunities and pop-up shops. I like shopping and clothes so I would take them to some cool thrift stores and clothing shops. There are a few in Little Five Points, which is also a great place to hang out. Streetwear is popular in the city so if there were any events I’d take them. My favorite streetwear event is Atlanta Streetwear Market. It happens three times a year and there are so many cool brands. Ponce City Market and the Beltline are also some of my favorite spots to hang out at. I feel like I know Ponce City Market like the back of my hand. It’s a great place to sightsee, shop, and eat. Ponce City Market is connected to the Beltline which is just a long trail that runs through the city. When I’m on the Beltline, I walk down to Fourth Ward Skate Park. I like to sit out there and just watch them skate. All the places I’ve named have great photo ops too. As far as food, you will never be hungry in this city. My favorite go-to spots right now are JJs Fish and Chicken and La Tecampana. JJs has really good fried food that is topped off with this seasoning. The seasoning is attached to a chain so no one steals it. It’s that serious out here. They also have this frozen lemonade that comes in different flavors. La Tecampana is a Mexican restaurant that is located in Austell. I’m a pretty familiar face there. My favorite thing to order is the chicken and Birria tacos. Their prices are really good too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a huge shoutout to God, that’s first. He is the reason that I’m even in this position. This is a God-given talent and without him, none of this would be possible. It’s so many people around me who helped me in this journey it’s insane. I have a great support system that pushes and motivates me every day. The first people I’m giving immediate recognition to are my parents, Ketty and Duane. My mom and dad are amazing it almost brings me to tears. My mom has always been there for me and helped me with my journey. She has pushed me and my siblings to do what makes us happy and to pursue entrepreneurship. She showed me so many tips and tricks that help me with my business. She’s very hardworking and punctual in everything that she does and I took those traits from her, I’d say my mom’s style influences me too. As long as I can remember. that woman is always wearing something cool. My dad is a creative himself. He’s an artist and he is very splendid at what he does. I can’t draw and paint like he can but he has an eye for colors and creativity. He’s very hands-on. I’m also giving recognition to my fourth-grade teacher Ms. Ealy. Ms. Ealy was the one who introduced me to crocheting. Before knowing her I had no clue in the world that it even existed. She was so sweet and I will forever appreciate her. After fourth grade, I lost all contact with her and I’ve been trying to find her because I want her to see how far I’ve come. I genuinely believe that she will appear in my life again one day. Last but not least, I want to give shoutouts to all of my amazing friends and strangers who support me. My friends are always there in my circle cheering me on and sending me all sorts of ideas to try, I want to say thank you to strangers because I get the best support from them. I find it crazy how a stranger will support you more than a person who knows you. I’ve met so many people who were immediately supportive within the first five minutes of knowing. It feels overwhelming at times because how could you support me so much? I remember one time I was vending at this event and this woman came to my booth. She expressed how much she admired me and my work, It was such a heartwarming moment. She even hugged me and said, “I am so proud of you young lady and I look forward to seeing you on a billboard one day.” I kind of wanted to cry but I had to tighten up because I had customers around. I say all this to say, that as long as you put God first, he will provide a great system of people along the way to help build, encourage, and motivate you.

Website: https://hands-of-joy-2.myshopify.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hands.ofjoy/

Image Credits
Akbar Khan Braxton Prince